Chest wounds, as a result of an accident or crime, are commonplace injuries in emergency rooms around the globe. Receiving prompt and proper attention could mean the difference between life and death for a victim of a chest wound injury. Knowing the proper first aid procedures to take until emergency assistance arrives may save someone you love.

Here are a few important facts you should know in the event of an accident involving a chest wound.

A victim of any type of chest wound will need to be monitored using the A, B, C, and D method of first aid. If you are not CPR certified, taking a basic CPR course is highly recommended, especially for those who have children or are caretakers to others.

If you are CPR certified, monitor the victim's vital signs using the A, B, C, and D first aid method.

* A) Make sure the victim's AIRWAY is open.

* B) Monitor their BREATHING.

* C) Check the victim's CIRULATION by monitoring their pulse rate, checking for severe bleeding, and checking the individual's skin color, temperature and moisture.

* D) Check for DISABILITY. Medical personnel will need to know both the victim's mental and physical status.

Even if you are not CPR trained, you can still assist the victim by noting the above conditions of their airway, breathing, circulation and disability. By surveying the scene and assisting the individual prior to the arrival of medical services, you can gather important medical data to relay to emergency medical personnel upon their arrival.

There are various types of chest wounds requiring different methods of first aid. In the case a chest injury may have resulted in a punctured or collapsed lung and the person is responsive, you will first need to assist the victim to sitting in an upright position or place them with the injured area facing upwards. Placing the individual in this position will protect the uninjured side from blood inside the chest cavity. It will further allow the good lung room to expand. To assist the victim in preventing pneumonia, strongly encourage the victim with this type of chest-wall injury to clear their lungs by coughing on an hourly basis, despite pain.

Another type of chest wound injury is a fractured rib. The primary symptom of a rib fracture is the victim expressing the experience of chest pain whenever they breathe, move or cough. Until emergency medical help arrives, it is best to stabilize the ribs using a pillow, blanket or other kind of soft object. Have the victim hold the soft object firmly against the injured area. You may further stabilize the area by tying the object in place around the person's body. Just tight enough to hold the object in place, but not too tight as to cause the victim more pain or damage to the chest. Once again, in order to prevent pneumonia, have the victim cough at least once per hour.

A fall or an act of violence, such as a stabbing, may result in a chest wound involving an impaled object. It is very important to know to never try to remove an impaled object. Removal of the object is very dangerous as it could cause more damage to the injured person. Instead, after monitoring the victim’s vital signs using the A, B, C, D first aid method, call 911 for emergency medical assistance. While waiting for help to arrive you should stabilize the object to keep it from moving. You can do this by using a bulky dressing or padding around the object. Secure the dressing in place by wrapping clean gauze bandages around the victims’ body.

Finally, a sucking chest wound is a wound, which allows air to pass in and out of the chest with each breath the victim takes. This wound should be sealed immediately. Have the injured person take a breath and then release the air. Following the exhalation of air, seal the open wound with anything available larger than the wound that will stop air from entering the chest cavity. A plastic bag or plastic wrap would be the most useful material for sealing this type of chest wound. Once the plastic is in place, tape the material to the body, leaving one corner untaped to create a flutter valve. This will prevent air from being trapped in the chest cavity.

If a plastic type of material is not available, you may use your hand to cover the injury until medical help arrives.

 If the injured person begins to develop difficulty breathing or if their condition worsens, remove your hand or plastic material and allow air to escape. Then reapply the covering once more.

In any and all cases involving a chest injury call for emergency medical professionals immediately and stay with the injured person at all times to monitor ant changes and to reassure them that emergency medical help is on the way.